Smooth Operator: 4 Ways To Perform Hair Removal Services
Hair removal methods have come a long way since our caveman days of using sharp flint and pumice stones to cut and scrape away unwanted hair. Yep... apparently even cavemen enjoyed some hair-free living, although it probably had more to do with lice and insect control than rocking a set of silky smooth pins. Whatever the reason, the practice of hair removal remained popular throughout the ages, with the ancient Egyptians inventing many of the methods we still use today.
Whether you are looking to offer your clients quick and temporary hair removal or something a little more permanent, there are so many options to choose from these days, it can be difficult to know which is the best hair removal services to offer.
Let's take a look at some of the most popular hair removal methods used in salons worldwide and how they work:
Threading
Having made a resurgence in the last 10 years, the art of Threading is actually centuries old and is believed to have begun in or around the Middle East. This technique uses a length of thin, cotton string that is looped and twisted to form a series of knots that will catch and pull out the hair as the string is moved back and forward across the skin.
Although promoted as being less painful than waxing, many would beg to differ. This method also seems to be reserved for facial hair (mainly eyebrows) and not an option you would want to offer clients wanting their bikini areas done.
However, if you are looking for a quick and cheap hair removal option then, Threading is worth having on your menu.
Sugaring
Originating in ancient Egypt, Sugaring is a hair removal method that uses a sticky paste made of sugar, water and lemon juice. The paste is cooked into a ball which can be manually pressed and smoothed on and off the skin to grip and pull out hair. It’s a bit messy but if you are a conscious salon, this chemical and preservative free ‘home-made’ method may be for you.
Waxing
One of the best known and most popular forms of hair removal; Waxing is a direct descendent of the ancient ‘sugaring’ practice and these days performed via various techniques using countless forms of ‘wax’.
Strip Waxing involves applying a very thin layer of warm wax onto the skin, then pressing a strip of woven fabric onto the wax so that it can be removed ‘band-aid’’ style from the skin. It’s a widely used hair removal method, popular as an in-salon service and as a DIY home option.
While many who have tried strip waxing at home have found the process painful and difficult to do, when performed by a trained waxing specialist, strip waxing offers superior hair removal results on all hair types and body areas.
Hot Waxing is similar to strip waxing minus the fabric strips. The wax itself is usually a thicker consistency and is applied in strips or patches, allowed to dry enough so that one edge can be flicked up with fingers, then removed with a quick flick of the hand.
Using hot wax for hair removal is one of the least painful methods as it does not pull at the skin as much as strip waxing therefore it is the prefered method for waxing of sensitive and intimate areas such as the brazilian, underarms and facial areas. However, many beauty salons and waxing clinics now offer hot wax for all body areas.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis was the first form of ‘Permanent’ hair removal and was developed in 1875 by an Opthamologist treating in-grown eyelashes on patients… ouch! It uses a very small, fine needle (probe) which, when inserted into the hair follicle, delivers an electrical current that coagulates and denatures the hair follicle.
The downside to electrolysis as a form of hair removal is that we literally have thousands of hair follicles in any given area and each follicle has several growth cycles - making electrolysis a very slow, drawn out method when performing treatment of large areas. Electrolysis also hurts… a lot! But, until recently, it has been the sole option for permanent hair removal.
With the arrival of IPL and Laser Hair Reduction, Electrolysis has taken a much welcomed back seat, however it is still used in combination with IPL and Laser technology when treating grey or light coloured terminal hairs.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) & Laser Hair Reduction
IPL and Laser Hair Reduction is the latest, fastest and most permanent form of hair removal currently on the market. While the two are different (IPL is not a laser), they are often referred to interchangeably as they both work in a similar way.
The technology uses a flash or beam of light to deliver controlled energy onto the treatment area. The energy is absorbed by the hair and converted into heat. This heat then radiates out from the hair and coagulates the hair follicle, similar to the process of electrolysis. Although this method has the same effect as Electrolysis, the process is much faster with large areas (such as a man’s back) being able to be completed in around 30 minutes.
IPL and Laser have now become a mainstream hair removal option and considered a ‘must-have’ on any beauty menu.
Learn or Upskill Your Hair Removal Techniques at the Skin and Beauty Training Centre
Professional training such as that delivered by the Skin and Beauty Training Centre (SBTC) will enable any hair removal specialist to gain the skills and knowledge needed to perform popular hair reduction techniques safely and effectively.
At the Skin and Beauty Training Centre, our IPL Hair Reduction and Beginners or Advanced Waxing courses have been developed by industry professionals in collaboration with leading Australian beauty clinics to teach you everything you need to know to perform professional hair removal services on your clients.
Guiding you through the contraindications, correct treatment protocols and techniques the experienced SBTC trainers will share all their tried and tested tips and tricks so you can offer hair removal services with confidence.
Your online or face-to-face hair removal training options come with ongoing mentoring and support via SBTC online beauty community groups and complimentary training opportunities.
And, of course, on completion you will receive a certificate of attainment to acknowledge that you have been professionally trained in hair removal procedures.
To get started, contact the SBTC team on:
(07) 3357 4081
visit the SBTC website at skinandbeautytrainingcentre.com.au or